At the heart of the DSWT’s conservation activities is the Orphans’ Project, which has achieved world-wide acclaim through its hugely successful elephant and rhino rescue and rehabilitation program. The Orphans’ Project exists to offer hope for the future of Kenya’s threatened elephant and rhino populations as they struggle against the threat of poaching for their ivory and horn, and the loss of habitat due to human population pressures and conflict, deforestation and drought.

To date the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has successfully hand-raised over 150 infant elephants and has accomplished its long-term conservation priority by effectively reintegrating orphans back into the wild herds of Tsavo, claiming many healthy wild-born calves from former-orphaned elephants raised in our care.

The success of our Orphans’ Projects is due to the assistance of many organizations and individuals but particularly to the support of the Trust’s Fostering Programme. We thank all who have fostered one or more of the elephant orphans and particularly those who have donated more than the mandatory $50 a year to do so at a time when extra funding is needed most.

We thank Care for the Wild International for their substantial support over the years, along with Rettet die Elefanten Afrikas Ev., Vrienden van de Olifant, Terre et Faune, Aktionsgemeinschaft Artenschutz (AGA) , The International Fund for Animal Welfare, The Eden Wildlife Trust and the Swedish Foreningen Forsvar Elefanterna for their grants in support of our Orphans’ Project.